He had a series of hurdles of various kinds over a given run and he mounted one of his well broken ponies and rode away. The first hurdle, which was an insignificant affair, proved too much for his thoroughbred, and they went down in a heap. A great shout of laughter went up from the assembled ladies and gentlemen, which provoked young Gardner into a torrent of language so inelegant, albeit so expressive of his sentiments, that the party beat a hasty retreat.

John Montgomery, the father of Minnie Montgomery, who was with the unfortunate young lady who was murdered at Cheyenne, after the passing of the Black Hills stage, sold his location and buildings to Whipple & Hay, who put some cattle on the range, and

established the 4J brand. The same brand is now (1919) owned by Ed Covington, whose range is in the Pine Ridge and Hartville mountains.

One of the brands acquired by the Bay State Land and Cattle Company, was the 4J, but it was of another herd, and of less importance. Just east of Wild Cat mountain, in the northern part of Banner county, is a spring that adds its flow to that of Pumpkin creek. This was located by a man named Brown, and the forty acres on which it was situated was sold to the Bay State. This spring is known as the "Four- Jay-Spring."

Ed Bouton, a brother of Mark Bouton, of the VB, followed from Texas soon after the location of the VB ranch on Bear creek. He also had a temper and an inclination to homicide. A sister arrived and in due time was married to one of the early men, Ed Bryant.